Marian vs. AQ

Comparable Facts

Compare Marian University in Indianapolis, IN with Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Marian University is larger than AQ based on total student enrollment (3,486 students vs. 1,157 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Marian University is located in Indianapolis, IN (Large City setting); Aquinas College is in Grand Rapids, MI (Midsize City setting).
• Marian University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Aquinas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Marian University 13:1; Aquinas College 10:1.

Marian vs. AQ Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Marian or AQ? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Aquinas College than Marian ($18,018 vs. $22,786).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Aquinas College are 15.7% lower than at Marian University ($11,680 vs. $13,850).
• Marian University is 1.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than AQ (about $446 more per year; $40,664.00 vs. $40,218.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.1% higher at Marian than at Aquinas College (about $446 more per year; $40,664.00 vs. $40,218.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Aquinas College than at Marian University (100% vs. 97%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Aquinas College students is 3.7% larger than aid received by Marian University students ($33,535 vs. $32,351).

Marian vs. AQ Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Marian or AQ? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between AQ and Marian.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsAquinas College 910/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsAquinas College 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Marian - Test-free; AQ - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Marian Aug 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Marian students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at AQ (3.52).
• Marian has a higher acceptance rate (95.5%) than AQ (89.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at Marian vs. 11.8% at AQ.

Marian vs. AQ Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Marian and AQ? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Marian University's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than Aquinas College's (52%).
• Graduates from Marian University earn a median of about $4,800 more per year than AQ graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $40,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Aquinas College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Marian graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, AQ graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Marian graduates ($268 vs. $279).
• More AQ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Marian students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 57%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.